London - Pessimists who assume the worst might have the right idea after all, a study suggests
Expecting that bad things will happen to you is actually less stressful than the uncertainty of not knowing what’s around the corner, according to scientists.
Study volunteers told they had a chance of getting a painful electric shock were found to be under more stress than those warned they would definitely receive one.
The University College London researchers created an experiment in which participants were told they had either no chance of receiving a shock, a 50 per cent chance, or that they would definitely be shocked. The 45 volunteers then played a computer game in which they guessed whether rocks had snakes beneath them – and when they did they received a shock.
The study found those told there was a 50 percent chance were the most anxious during the experiment, exhibiting symptoms including sweating and pupil dilation.
Co-author Dr Robb Rutledge wrote in the journal Nature Communications: ‘When applying for a job, you’ll probably feel more relaxed if you think it’s a long shot or if you’re confident it’s in the bag.’
Daily Mail